Wednesday, March 23, 2011

This is a small study of a female Wood Duck that will be used for my next large studio painting. At first glance the hen looks like a drab brownish color, but on closer inspection she reveals beautiful greens, reds and blues which combine to create the brown color that keeps her hidden her while she incubates her eggs. Once again I used a limited palette of just Cadmium Yellow, Red and Ultramarine Blue with just a couple touches of Chromatic Black to get a deeper value in the shadow areas of the feathers. SOLD

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

This is a small studio study (6"x8") of a pair of Wood Ducks that I did for a larger painting I plan to enter into a show. I do these small studies to work out problems before I dive into the final painting. My main concern here was with color and composition. I wasn't sure what color scheme to use (autumn, spring, fog) but I think I like the early spring feel this study shows. I already see some compositional things I want to change. I want to bring the ducks more toward the center and maybe make them a little larger. I'm also experimenting with the possibility of moving the hen in front of the drake, but I'm not so sure on this. If any of my artist friends out there have any suggestions send me an email-I'm all ears.SOLD

Saturday, March 5, 2011

This is the John Slyder Farm in Gettysburg National Park. It was based on the field study I posted a while back. This farm became a Confederate field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. This painting will be available at Lord Nelson's Gallery at History Meets the Arts this coming June.The Slyder Farm, oil on linen, 18"x24"SOLD

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About Jason

Jason started drawing at a young age. It was discovered by his teachers and peers that he possessed a knack and desire for artwork, a desire that he pursued until his senior year when he switched to playing electric bass. About 10 years later Jason realized how much he had missed nature and artwork and began to sketch again. He painstakingly worked his way from pencil to watercolor while using nature and wildlife as his subject matter. A love for wildlife and landscape came natural being that he was born and raised in rural Minnesota.
One of the things Jason enjoys most about his art is going out into nature and gathering experiences that will later be brushed onto canvas. Jason has a deep passion for the north woods and prairies. Some of his favorite memories are camping trips up in northern Minnesota. These trips have turned into beautiful paintings that express his passion for the north. Jason also has a love for simpler times that are long since gone; old barns, still life paintings with hand-sewn bunnies and flowers and other subjects express this longing for the past.